Dispenser for paper napkins and the like

ABSTRACT

An open-ended case has pivoted doors with dispensing openings marginally formed to cooperate with pusher means to afford varying resistance as successive articles are dispensed. Pusher plates are eliminated by the form of the follower springs themselves. Pressure of pusher springs is relieved during loading by pivoting the springs to the case and providing a flange on each door which holds its spring in operative position only when the door is shut.

United States Patent [72] inventor Robert Burkhaiter. Jr.

Fort Atkinson. Wis. [21] Apply No 794,318 [22] Filed Jan. 27. 1969 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [73} Assignee Alwin Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Green Bay. Wis.

[54] DISPENSER FOR PAPER NAPKINS AND THE LIKE 12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. C1 .v 221/35, 221/37, 221/45 [51] Int. Cl B6511 1/12 [50] Field ofSearch 221/33- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 888,072 5/1908 Ehrlich 221/45 2,528,488 11/1950 Barszcz 221/37 2,852.158 9/1958 Jones et a1. 221/35 2,881,948 4/1959 Chaplin Y .7 4, 221/35 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,171 1895 Great Britain 229/65 Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek Att0rneyWheeler, House & Wheeler ABSTRACT: An open-ended case has pivoted doors with dispensing openings marginally formed to cooperate with pusher means to afford varying resistance as successive articles are dispensed. Pusher plates are eliminated by the form of the follower springs themselves. Pressure of pusher springs is relieved during loading by pivoting the springs to the case and providing a flange on each door which holds its spring in operative position only when the door is shut.

DISPENSER FOR PAPER NAIPKINS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While this dispenser is particularly designed for paper napkins, it may be used in different dimensions to dispense towels and other articles of paper or plastic. Reference herein to napkins is by way of exempliiication and is intended to include like articles.

Dispensers of this type commonly have been difficult to load because of a pusher plate which is subject to spring bias and has to be pushed back by the napkins as these are inserted. In addition, many dispensers of this type tend to permit the undesirable accidental withdrawal of more than one article at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Three major features are (l) relief of pressure during loading', (2) substitution of portion of the follower spring to function as a pusher to bias the articles toward the dispensing opening in lieu of a pressure plate, and (3) cooperation between the form of the follower and the margin of the dispensing opening to facilitate article withdrawal and to limit the dispensing operation to a single article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The novel form of the case 8 is a matter of design and is not required for the function of the dispenser. The case comprises a bottom 10, sidewalls l2 and 14, and a top 16. It is open ended.

The bottom 10 has downwardly turned flanges 18 which are formed to provide ears at 20 to which the ed doors 22 are pivoted. Whereas the case is preferably made of metal, the doors 22 are desirably made of plastic. When the respective doors are closed, the side flanges 24 telescope inwardly over offset flanges 26 of the case 8..

Each the doors is provided with a dispensing opening 28. Above this opening the door has a transversely curvilinear inwardly offset wall portion 30. Below this opening there is a shallower and less sharply curvilinear offset portion 32 in said wall. These inset wall portions are best shown in FIG. 5. From the inset wall portion 32, there are ribs 36 which extend downwardly and are shouldered at 38 near their lower ends to provide greater inward projection at 40. The general direction of the ribs 36 is not vertical but is inclined as clearly shown in FIG. 5, the inwardly extending lower portions 40 thereof being materially offset toward the center of the dispenser as compared with the wall portion 32 at the lower margin of opening 28. Each door has a relatively heavy bottom flange 44 which projects well beyond the pintle 46 upon which the door is pivotally movable. As will be explained, this flange is a means for acting on the follower supporting spring to perform the important function of anchoring the respective follower spring 50 when the door is closed, the flange releasing the spring to permit the dispenser to be loaded without back pressure.

Each of the follower springs 50 has pintle portions 52 which oscillate in cars 54 which project oppositely at both ends of a plate 56, which is attached to the bottom 10 of the dispenser. Centrally of the dispenser, and adjacent each of the ears 54,

the follower spring has portions 58 constituting an anchoring arm. Only when thesearms are held tightly against the bottom wall 10 of the dispenser by door flange 44 is the spring effective to perform a follower function. When the dispenser door is open for reloading as shown at the left in FIG. 5, the anchorage arm 58 of the follower spring 50 is free and the en tire follower may oscillate from its normal follower position shown at the right in FIG. 5 to a retracted position shown at the left in FIG. 5.

From the pintle portions 52, follower supporting resilient arms 60 of the follower spring 50 extend upwardly. These supporting arms are connected at their upper ends to a spring loop 62 which serves as a pusher and which extends downwardly and toward the dispensing door from which the spring is activated. Atits lower end, the pusher loop 62 has a forwardly directed curved portion 64. Immediately above this forwardly projecting portion, the pusher loop is curved inwardly at 66 and thence projects convexly outwardly at 68 as viewed in side elevation.

It will be apparent that with the follower spring 50 entirely free as shown at the left in FIG. 5, there will be little or no resistance to the insertion of articles to be dispensed. However, when the door 22 is closed from the position shown at the left in FIG. 5 to a position corresponding to that shown at the right in FIG. 5, the flange 44 engages the anchorage arms 58 of the spring 50, thereby forcing such arms downwardly against the bottom wall 10 of the dispenser and causing the pintle por- 1 tions 52 of the spring to oscillate in the bearings provided at 54 on plate 56. This will cause the entire follower to pivot toward the dispensing opening, thereby subjecting the articles 70 to pressure toward the opening as shown at the right in FIG. 5. Y

The. articles as showncomprise paper napkins narrowed by lengthwise folds and then transversely folded at 72 to provide outer ends 74 which are offset upwardly from the lower end fold 76. The inwardly offset portion 30 of the door 22 holds the upper ends 74 while the ends 76 of these articles are forced by the convex portions 68 of the pusher loop 62 to overlie the less offset wall portion 32 of the door, this being; below the dispensing opening 28. Accordingly, the end 76 of the paper napkin tends to be projected outwardly where it can easily be grasped for withdrawal from the dispenser.

Initially, the lower end fold 72 of thenapkin will have considerable friction on the projecting portions 40 of the ribs 36. However, the friction will be considerably less than would be the case if the napkin were engaged in full face contact with the wall. As soon as the withdrawal of the end 70 has progressed far enough so that the fold 72 clears the portions 40 of the ribs and is at the level of the relieved portions thereof, above the shoulder 38, the resistance will be further decreased and the article will readily be withdrawn with little or no tendency to displace the next ensuing article in the dispenser.

I claim:

1. An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening, a follower including a pusher and a supporting means mounting the pusher for advance and retraction and for spring bias of said pusher from an advanced position toward said opening, a door through which said dispenser may be loaded and which is movable between open and closed position, and means connected with the door to be operated therefrom for acting on said spring supporting means for advance of said pusher toward said opening, the bias of said spring supporting means on said pusher in the direction of said opening being increased when the door is closed and relieved when the door is opened, the case having a bottom provided with transverse bearing means, the spring supporting means of said follower having pintle portions oscillatable in the bearing means and from which the spring supporting means extends generally upwardly and having anchoring arms extending generally forwardly, said door being pivoted to said case adjacent said bearing means and extending upwardly therefrom and provided with the said dispensing opening, said door having a flange which, in the movement of said door toward the said closed position engages said anchoring arms and effects movement thereof toward the case bottom whereby to oscillate said spring supporting means in said bearing means for the advance of said pusher toward said opening.

2. An article dispenser according to claim 1, in which a plate attached to the bottom of the case has tubular beads on its margins constituting said bearing means, the spring supporting means including lengths of spring wire extending upwardly and connected with said pusher, and adjacent portions of such wire extending inwardly along said plate and through said tubular bearing means to provide said pintle portions.

3. An article dispenser according to claim 1, in which said spring supporting means comprises laterally spaced resilient upright armsjoined at their upper ends remote from said bearing means by a depending and forwardly bowed loop of resilient wire constituting said pusher.

4. An article dispenser according to claim 1, in which said spring supporting means and pusher loop comprise spring wire having laterally spaced upright arms joined at their upper ends, remote from said bearing means, by a depending and forwardly bowed loop constituting said pusher, said spring wire below the last mentioned arms having portions extending through the bearing means to constitute said pintles and from which the anchoring arms extends forwardly toward said door and lies in the path of movement of said flange when said door is moved to its closed position.

5. An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening, a follower including a pusher and a supporting means mounting the pusher for advance and retraction and for spring bias of said pusher from an advanced position toward said opening, a door through which said dispenser may be loaded and which is movable between open an closed position, and means connected with the door to be operated therefrom for acting on said spring supporting means for advance of said pusher toward said opening, the bias of said spring supporting means on said pusher in the direction of said opening being increased when the door is closed and relieved when the door is opened, the bottom of said door being hingedly connected with said case, the dispensing opening aforesaid being provided in an upper part of said door and said door having inwardly offset portions above and below the opening and providing upper and lower margins of said opening.

6. An article dispenser according to claim 4, in which said offset portions are transversely curvilinear and inwardly inclined to provide said offset.

7. An article dispenser according to claim 4, in which said door or has laterally spaced generally upright ribs extend downwardly from the offset portion of the door at the lower margin of said opening and having lower extremities of relatively increased rearward projection from said door 8. An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening, a follower including a pusher and a supporting means mounting the pusher for advance and retraction and for spring bias of said pusher from an advanced position toward said opening, a door through which said dispenser may be loaded and which is movable between open and closed position, and means connected with the door to be operated therefrom for acting on said spring supporting means for advance of said pusher toward said opening, the bias of said spring supporting means on said pusher in the direction of said opening being increased when the door is closed and relieved when the door is opened, article dispenser according to claim 1 in which said follower and the spring supporting means for the pusher comprising spring wire and including generally upright arms having inwardly bent pintle portions for which said case provides bearings, said arms being connected by a loop constituting said pusher and having a closed bight at its lower end, said bight and the intermediate parts of said loop being forwardly curved as compared with other parts of said loop, the said dispensing opening being opposite the forwardly curved intermediate parts of the loop An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening and adapted to contain a succession of articles to be advanced toward said opening, and a follower means for advancing such articles comprising a spring which includes spaced supporting arms having connection with said case bottom and projecting behind the article across the path of article advance, and a pusher loop projecting from said supporting arms back toward the connection with the case and providing an integral connection between said arms 10. An article dispenser according to claim 9, in which said bight has side portions between the arms with which they are connected, and an extremity to which said side portions lead, said side portions and the extremity of said bight both being curved forwardly toward said opening as compared with intervening portions of said bight.

11. An article dispenser according to claim 10, in which the dispensing opening in said case is opposite the forwardly curved side portions of the said pusher loop, the bight being offset from the dispensing opening and the wall of the case being offset inwardly about said opening toward the convex side portions of the pusher loop.

12. in an article dispenser, follower comprising in one piece of spring wire a pusher loop and a pair oflaterally spaced supporting arms substantially in a common plane and having mounting ends, said arms having portions reversely curved upon themselves remote from the mounting ends, said pusher loop having side portions integrally connected with the reversely curved portions of said arms, said loop side portions extending back toward said mounting ends and comprising a bight which integrally connects them, the side portions of said loop being convex away from the plane of said arms and returning toward said plane, and the bight portion of said loop being curved away from said plane.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. '5 589. 555 Dated June 29. 197].

Inv nt r( Robert Burkhalter. Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, Line H7, "ed" should read --end Column 5, Line 5}, an should read --and Column 3, Line +9, delete or" from the sentence Column 3, Line 9, "extend" should read---eXtending-- Column L, Lina 11 and 12, delete "article dispenser according to claim 1 in which said follower and" from the sentence Signed and sealed this 7th day of March 1972.

(SEAL) At te st:

EDWARD M.FLETCIIE1R,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening, a follower including a pusher and a supporting means mounting the pusher for advance and retraction and for spring bias of said pusher from an advanced position toward said opening, a door through which said dispenser may be loaded and which is movable between open and closed position, and means connected with the door to be operated therefrom for acting on said spring supporting means for advance of said pusher toward said opening, the bias of said spring supporting means on said pusher in the direction of said opening being increased when the door is closed and relieved when the door is opened, the case having a bottom provided with transverse bearing means, the spring supporting means of said follower having pintle portions oscillatable in the bearing means and from which the spring supporting means extends generally upwardly and having anchoring arms extending generally forwardly, said door being pivoted to said case adjacent said bearing means and extending upwardly therefrom and provided with the said dispensing opening, said door having a flange which, in the movement of said door toward the said closed position engages said anchoring arms and effects movement thereof toward the case bottom whereby to oscillate said spring supporting means in said bearing means for the advance of said pusher toward said opening.
 2. An article dispenser according to claim 1, in which a plate attached to the bottom of the case has tubular beads on its margins constituting said bearing means, the spring supporting means including lengths of spring wire extending upwardly and connected with said pusher, and adjacent portions of such wire extending inwardly along said plate and through said tubular bearing means to provide said pintle portions.
 3. An article dispenser according to claim 1, in which said spring supporting means comprises laterally spaced resilient upright arms joined at their upper ends remote from said bearing means by a depending and forwardly bowed loop of resilient wire constituting said pusher.
 4. An article dispenser according to claim 1, in which said spring supporting means and pusher loop comprise spring wire having laterally spaced upright arms joined at their upper ends, remote from said bearing means, by a depending and forwardly bowed loop constituting said pusher, said spring wire below the last mentioned arms having portions extending through the bearing means to constitute said pintles and from which the anchoring arms extends forwardly toward said door and lies in the path of movement of said flange when said door is moved to its closed position.
 5. An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening, a follower including a pusher and a supporting means mounting the pusher for advance and retraction and for spring bias of said pusher from an advanced position toward said opening, a door through which said dispenser may be loaded and which is movable between open an closed position, and means connected with the door to be operated therefrom for acting on said spring supporting means for advance of said pusher toward said opening, the bias of said spring supporting means on said pusher in the direction of said opening being increased when the door is closed and relieved when the door is opened, the bottom of said door being hingedly connected with said case, the dispensing opening aforesaid being provided in an upper part of said door and said door having inwardly offset portions above and below the opening and providing upper and lower margins of said opening.
 6. An article dispenser according to claim 4, in which said offset portions are transversely curvilinear and inwardly inclined to provide said offset.
 7. An article dispenser according to claim 4, in which said door or has laterally spaced generally upright ribs extend downwardly from the offset portion of the door at the lower margin of said opening and having lower extremities of relatively increased rearward projection from said door
 8. An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening, a follower including a pusher and a supporting means mounting the pusher for advance and retraction and for spring bias of said pusher from an advanced position toward said opening, a door through which said dispenser may be loaded and which is movable between open and closed position, and means connected with the door to be operated therefrom for acting on said spring supporting means for advance of said pusher toward said opening, the bias of said spring supporting means on said pusher in the direction of said opening being increased when the door is closed and relieved when the door is opened, article dispenser according to claim 1 in which said follower and the spring supporting means for the pusher comprising spring wire and including generally upright arms having inwardly bent pintle portions for which said case provides bearings, said arms being connected by a loop constituting said pusher and having a closed bight at its lower end, said bight and the intermediate parts of said loop being forwardly curved as compared with other parts of said loop, the said dispensing opening being opposite the forwardly curved intermediate parts of the loop.
 9. An article dispenser comprising a case having a dispensing opening and adapted to contain a succession of articles to be advanced toward said opening, and a follower means for advancing such articles comprising a spring which includes spaced supporting arms having connection with said case bottom and projecting behind the article across the path of article advance, and a pusher loop projecting from said supporting arms back toward the connection with the case and providing an integral connection between said arms
 10. An article dispenser according to claim 9, in which said bight has side portions between the arms with which they are connected, and an extremity to which said side portions lead, said side portions and the extremity of said bight both being curved forwardly toward said opening as compared with intervening portions of said bight.
 11. An article dispenser according to claim 10, in which the dispensing opening in said case is opposite the forwardly curved side portions of the said pusher loop, the bight being offset from the dispensing opening and the wall of the case being offset inwardly about said opening toward the convex side portions of the pusher loop.
 12. In an article dispenser, follower comprising in one piece of spring wire a pusher loop and a pair of laterally spaced supporting arms substantially in a common plane and having mounting ends, said arms having portions reversely curved upon themselves remote from the mounting ends, said pusher loop having side portions integrally connected with the reversely curved portions of said arms, said loop side portions extending back toward said mounting ends and comprising a bight which integrally connects them, the side portions of said loop being convex away from the plane of said arms and returning toward said plane, and the bight portion of said loop being curved away from said plane. 